Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Proposes Taxpayer-Funded Dental Care for Meth Users

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass proposed that taxpayers fund dental care for unhoused meth users during a candidate forum last week. Bass said many people experiencing homelessness lack teeth because of meth use. She argued that comprehensive healthcare is necessary for people to succeed.

" Bass said. Why? " "You can't succeed without teeth. So there needs to be comprehensive healthcare provided to people," she continued.

Conservative commentators criticized Bass for not addressing the underlying causes of homelessness and drug addiction in her remarks. Former Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Katie Zacharia said Bass focused on symptoms rather than the disease. Former Trump assistant attorney general Theo Wold wrote that the worst part of meth addiction is the addiction itself, not dental damage.

Angeles counted more than 43,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in early February 2025, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Bass, 72, is seeking a second term in the June 2 primary. She previously represented a Los Angeles congressional district from 2011 to 2022.

City Council member Nithya Raman and former reality television star Spencer Pratt are among the candidates challenging Bass. Pratt has criticized Bass's handling of homelessness and public safety issues since launching his campaign in January.